Improvement in shoe-upper-fitting machines



J; WALDEN & G. PLAT TS.

Shoe-UpperFitting-Madhinm 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

9,732. Patented Nov. 5, 1878.5

a I I:

UN TED STATES: PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH WALDEN AND GEORGE PLATTS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHOE-UPPER-FITTING MACHINES.

Specification forming'part of Letters Patent No. 209,732, dated November5, 1878 application filed March 13, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J OSEPH WALDEN and GEORGE PLATTS, of the city ofNewark, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Shoe-Fitting Machines, of which the following is a full, true, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to mechanism for gumming and fastening togetherthe lining and gores of leather uppers of shoes.

The object of ourimprovement is to insert between the folded lining andthe upper-leather of elastic shoes the elastic gorin g, and to paste itthere ready for stitching. V

Our invention is constructed to fit exactly any number of shoes inprecisely the same manner, so that after the machine has been adjustedto fit a gore of one size and angle it will continue to fit all theshoes provided with e that gore in precisely similar manner, and ourapparatus is made adjustable, so as to fit shoes the gores of which areof different widths or of different angles. These results we accomplishby means of the folding-blades, guides, clamps, and weights, clearlyshown.

at once, which has never before been possible.

Our invention isclearly shown in the ac companying drawings, in whichfolded ready for the application of the elastic gores. Fig. 3 representsthe elastic gores laid upon the lining and held in position by suitableclamps. Fig. 4 represents the final step of the process, in which theleather uppers for the front and back of the shoe are pasted on thelining and elastic gores, and are held in position by heavy weights.

Our machine is precisely similar on both sides, and therefore we shalldescribe but onehalf.

Our machine consists, generally, of a bedplate, A, to which the variousportions are attached. Upon this bed-plate A is pivoted a double weight,0, under which the uppers are laid after they are. fitted, as will behereinafy means of this mechanism both gores are fitted ter described. Anarrow triangular opening,

B, is cut through the bed-plate A. On top of both sides of the centralhole B are the stationary folding-edges G, by means of which the frontedges of the lining are folded. Pivoted tothe frame is the clampH,-provided with the two arms 71., which correspond and meet thefolding-edges G. These arms h and the corresponding edges G are notexactlyparallel, but are somewhat tapered, forming a very acute, anglewith each other, so as to enable the'material after it has been foldedto be readily drawn away endwise from beneath the clamp. This clamp H isthrown down by means of the cam-lever N, and when thrown down holds thelining firmly between itself and the folding-edges G, and serves at thesame time to fold the edges of the lining ready for the reception of thegore. Pivoted on the adjustable frame F by a pivot, j, is the swingingframe P, swinging in the arc of a circle, and provided with a slot, t,and set-screw o. By loosening the set-screw c the plate P can be swungin the arc of a circle, so as to determine the angle between it and thecentral folding-edges Got the machine, whereby gores of different anglescan be fitted. This swinging plate P rests upon the slides f, attachedto the adjustable frame F, and slides freely upon them. Pivoted to theback of the plate P is the folding-clamp R, provided with a handle, q,and afolding-blade, r. This clamp has a lateral and vertical movement,and can be acted upon by the clamp is when thrown into its forwardposition. 'NVhen thrown forward it folds the back edge of the lining,and holds the lining in position ready for the reception of the gore.Pivoted to the plate D are the clamps p, which clamps, when swung down,correspond with the f'oldingedges G. Pivoted to the swinging plate P isthe corresponding clamp 01., which corresponds to the folding-edge k.This clamp serves to hold the forward and back edges of the elasticgores in position when placed in the machine.

Pivoted to the back of the plate D is the weight L, adapted to bebrought down upon the leather after it has been placed upon the elasticgore, and adapted, when lowered, to fill the space between the inneredge of the clamp p and the edge of the hole 13. In other words, theedge of the weight L, when lowered, corresponds exactly with thespring-elamph. When raised, the weight L is supported on the rest m.Pivoted on the swinging plate P is the corresponding weight M. Whenelevated, this weight is supported 'on the stationary arm m by means ofthe stud 1'. The edge of this weight, when lowered exactly covers thefolding-blade 'r of the swinging clamp R.

Fast to the plate D is the scale (1. By means of this scale the lateraladjustment of the sliding plate F, adjustable by means of the handwheelXV, can be determined, so as to correspond with any width of gore.

The back way f might also be provided with a scale, to determine theangular adjustment of the plate 1.

The operation of our machine can now be understood. The apparatus isfirst adjusted laterally by means of the screws W to correspond to thewidth of the gore to be inserted. Then the swinging plates P areadjusted to correspond with the angle of the gore. This being done, thelining is placed upon the machine beneath the sprin g-clam p H. Thelining is, of course, properly cut, as are the other parts to be fitted.It is laid upon the machine with the two gore holes or spaces for theinsertion of the gore corresponding exactly to the inner edges of thefolding-plates K and G, the toe of the lining being pressed down out ofthe way into the openingB cut through the apparatus. The cam-lever N isoperated, whereby the spring-plate H and the arms h are brought downupon the lining, clamping itfirmlyagainst the stationary part ofthe-machine. Then the folding-clamps R are swung in against thefoldingplate K by means of the handles q, and are forced against theedges of the plates K by means of the cam-clamps k. Then the edges ofthe lining are folded back over the foldingplates R and the springclamp-arms h. This operation is clearly shown in Fig. 2,where the outerfold is represented by a and the inner fold by a. This folding may bedone either by a tool or by hand. The seam of the lining s is shownpressed down in the opening B.

The lining is now ready for the reception of the elastic gores. Thisoperation is shown in Fig. 3. The edges of the elastic gores arethoroughly gummed, and are then laid so as to correspond with the foldededges of the lining, as is clearly shown in the drawing. Then the clampsp and n are placed upon the elastic gores, holding them firmly inposition, and exposing the inner and outer edges, 1 and Z, for thereception of the leather upper. It is plain that this upper might be ofother material besides leather.

The apparatus being in the position shown in Fig. 3, the leather to begummed is placed in the machine. The center portion, 0, Fig. 4, whichforms the toe of the shoe, has its edges placed so as correspond withthe exposed edge I of the gore E. The two back quarters b, which are toform the heel, are placed with their edges corresponding with the edgeslot' the gore E. Then the weights L and M are thrown down, therebyclamping and pressing together the leathers b and c and gore E and thelining T. This operation is showninFi g. 4. In this operation the frontsea-n1, c, of the leather 0 is drawn up between the weights L. Then theseam s of the lining Tis drawn up so as to correspond with the seam e.The weights L M are then thrown up. The clamp 11 and n are raised. Theclamps R are thrown back so as to rest on the clamp k. The springclamp His raised by throwing back the camlever N, and the fitted shoe-upper canbe removed from the apparatus, when it should be placed under theweights 0, Fig. 1, so as to complete the operation.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a shoe upper fitting machine, the clamps arranged in pairs,substantially as shown and described, whereby the two gores of a shoeare simultaneously fitted without changing the position of the parts,all substantially as set forth.

2. A shoe-fitting machine, arranged substantially as described, with themeans, substantially as herein shown and described, for laterallyadjusting the folding-clamp of the machine according to the varyingwidths of the gores to be fitted, in combination with the means,substantially as herein shown and described, for an gularly adjustingsaid foldingedge according to the varying angles of the gores to befitted, all substantially as herein set forth.

3. Ashoe-fitting machine having a sliding plate, which carries aswinging plate provided with the folding-edge, whereby the location ofsaid edge may be adjusted for operation both laterally and angularly,substantially as described.

4. A shoe-fittin g machine adapted to fit two gores simultaneously, andprovided with an opening in the table, into which the lining is drawnout of the way of the operating parts of the machine, substantially asdescribed.

5. A shoe-fitting machine adapted to fit two gores simultaneously,provided with a clamp having a slot or opening, into which the leatheris drawn out of the way of the operating parts of the machine,substantially as described.

6. A shoe-fitting machine adapted to fit two gores simultaneously,provided withan openin g in the-table and a corresponding opening in theclamp, for the removal from the operating parts of the machine inopposite direc tions of the lining and leather, substantially asdescribed.

7. A shoe-fitting machine provided, first, with clamps for holding thelining and edges for folding it upon; second, with independent clampsfor holding the gore when in position; and','third, with independentWeights adapted to press together the lining, the gore, and the leather,each of these parts being pivoted to the machine, and constructed sothat when they are lowered upon the material they will always come tothe same place on the plate on which the material is held, substantiallyas described.

8. In a shoe-fitting machine, a pivoted adjustable plate, P, havingattached to it a folding-blade to fold the lining, a clamp to clamp thegore, and a weight to press together the lining, the gore, and theleather, substantially as described.

9. In a shoe-fitting machine provided with a laterally-adjustable edge,determining the width of the gorepa scale-to determine the adjustment ofsuch plate, substantially as described. I

10. In a shoe-fitting machine, a foldingblade, over which the lining isfo1ded, and which is adapted to be drawn laterally from beneath thefolds so made, substantially as described.

11. In combination with a folding-blade adapted to be forced against afoldingedge, the cam-lever is, substantially as described.

12. In a shoe-fittin g machine, two independent clamps adapted to clampand hold the two edges of the gore, two independent clamps adapted tohold the gore after it is placed in position, and two independentweights adapted to press and hold together the lining, the gore, and theleather, substantially as described.

JOSEPH WALDEN. GEORGE PLATTS.

Witnesses:

S. F. SULLIVAN, WM. J. SAWYER.

